Collapsible mat with removable portion and method of making same

Abstract

A collapsible apparatus is provided that includes a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration. A sleeve is configured to receive the frame and to define an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop. An attachment mechanism is coupled substantially about the periphery of the sleeve. A fabric member is removably coupled to the sleeve such that it is easily removed. A method of making mats according to an embodiment of the invention includes cutting fabric members from a first sheet of material, cutting body membranes from a second sheet of material such that the amount of excess material from the second sheet of material between adjacent body membranes is minimized, and attaching one of the body membranes to one of the fabric members.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A collapsible apparatus, comprising: 
       a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;  
       a sleeve configured to receive said frame and defining an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop, said opening extending through said sleeve; and  
       at least a portion of a mating fastener coupled substantially about the periphery of the sleeve.  
     
     
       2. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment mechanism is located about a perimeter of said opening. 
     
     
       3. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment mechanism is located about a perimeter of said sleeve. 
     
     
       4. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment mechanism is located between an outer portion of said sleeve and a perimeter of said opening. 
     
     
       5. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a fabric member coupleable to said sleeve within said opening.  
     
     
       6. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said attachment mechanism retains a position of said fabric member relative to said sleeve. 
     
     
       7. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 5 , said fabric member further comprising: 
       a body membrane coupled to said fabric member; and  
       a pillow membrane coupled to said fabric member.  
     
     
       8. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 5 , said fabric member further comprising: 
       a body membrane coupled to said fabric member; and  
       a raised support coupled to said fabric member.  
     
     
       9. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       an interior membrane extending within said opening, said interior membrane defining a second opening.  
     
     
       10. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
       a fabric member removably coupled within said second opening.  
     
     
       11. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
       a pillow membrane coupled to said interior membrane; and  
       a body membrane coupled to said fabric member.  
     
     
       12. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
       a raised support coupled to said interior membrane; and  
       a body membrane coupled to said fabric member.  
     
     
       13. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 10 , said attachment mechanism having a first portion and a second portion complementary with the first portion, the first portion being located on said interior membrane and the second portion is located on said fabric member. 
     
     
       14. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
       a body membrane removably coupled within said second opening.  
     
     
       15. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
       a base membrane extending substantially across the first opening.  
     
     
       16. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 14 , said attachment mechanism comprising: 
       a hole defined in said interior membrane and configured to receive at least a portion of said body membrane;  
       a retainer configured to retain at least a portion of said body membrane in said hole.  
     
     
       17. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
       a grommet coupled to said hole.  
     
     
       18. A collapsible apparatus, comprising: 
       a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;  
       a plurality of interface membranes coupled substantially about said frame, the frame and plurality of interface membranes defining an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop; and  
       a plurality of attachment mechanisms each being coupled to an interface membrane from the plurality of interface membranes, the attachment mechanisms each being spaced apart from the opening.  
     
     
       19. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
       a fabric member removably coupleable to the plurality of interface membranes within said opening.  
     
     
       20. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 19 , said fabric member further comprising: 
       a body membrane coupled to said fabric member; and  
       a pillow membrane coupled to said fabric member.  
     
     
       21. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 19 , said fabric member further comprising: 
       a body membrane coupled to said fabric member; and  
       a raised support coupled to said fabric member.  
     
     
       22. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
       an interior membrane extending within said opening, said interior membrane defining a second opening.  
     
     
       23. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
       a fabric member removably coupled within said second opening.  
     
     
       24. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein: 
       each attachment mechanism from the plurality of attachment mechanisms have a first portion and a second portion complementary with the first portion, the first portion is located on said interior membrane and the second portion is located on an interface membrane from the plurality of interface membranes.  
     
     
       25. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
       a body membrane removably coupled within said second opening; and  
       a pillow membrane coupled to said interior membrane.  
     
     
       26. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
       a body membrane removably coupled within said second opening; and  
       a raised support coupled to said interior membrane.  
     
     
       27. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
       a base membrane extending substantially across the opening.  
     
     
       28. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said attachment mechanism further includes: 
       an opening defined in said interior membrane and configured to receive at least a portion of said body membrane.  
     
     
       29. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said attachment mechanism further includes: 
       an opening defined in said interior membrane and configured to receive at least a portion of said body membrane; and  
       a retainer configured to retain at least a portion of said body membrane in said hole.  
     
     
       30. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said attachment mechanism is a strap across a portion of the frame, the strap configured to receive at least a portion of said body membrane. 
     
     
       31. A collapsible apparatus, comprising: 
       a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;  
       a fabric member coupled to said frame; and  
       at least a portion of a mating fastener coupled to said fabric member and configured to removably couple a body membrane to said fabric member.  
     
     
       32. A collapsible apparatus, comprising: 
       a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;  
       a sleeve having a first face and a second face, said sleeve being configured to receive said frame and defining an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop, said opening passing through the first face and the second face; and  
       at least a portion of a mating fastener coupled substantially about the periphery of the sleeve.  
     
     
       33. A collapsible apparatus comprising: 
       a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;  
       a sleeve configured to receive said frame and defining an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop, said opening extending through said sleeve; and  
       a membrane removably couplable to said sleeve within said opening.  
     
     
       34. A collapsible apparatus, comprising: 
       a frame configured to form a closed loop;  
       a sleeve configured to receive said frame and defining an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop; and  
       a membrane, the membrane being removably coupled to said sleeve such that:  
       when said membrane is coupled to said sleeve, said frame is shaped substantially similar to said membrane, and  
       when said membrane is removed from said sleeve, said frame is shaped differently from said membrane.  
     
     
       35. The collapsible apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein: 
       when said membrane is coupled to said sleeve, said frame is an oval shape, and  
       when said membrane is removed from said sleeve, said frame is a circular shape.